Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-22
A GREAT MOVEMENT.
How Organized Emigration to
Kansas Saved the State from
the Slave Power.
Abolitionists Characterized by Eli Thayer
as the Original SeoeasiOnists.
Notns from a scrap-Book.

| fourth anu NAM Slreets, ""''h P"'f'e'
Is an apology for city hall in this city,
New Worcester, the eve OF tht
Granger VIII at once be attracted by
IN imposing structure of solid masonry
With its towers and battlements which
all to mind the castles of ancient
mes, writes n Worcester (Mass.) cor
respondent of The Boston Globe. This
,nioue structure is the Dread institute,
very comfortable boarding school for
,oung ladies, and the eminence upon
which IL stands was in olden times
;nown as Goats hill; but when the
PRESENT educational institution was built
is founder gave to Goats hill the elias
lie name of Mont Dread.
The Dread institute was opened for
he reception of pupils in lS49, and was
uilt by Hon. Eli Thayer, who is, in my
,pinion, the most important historical
character now lying in Worcester. He
vas born sixty-eight years ago, in that
,art of the old town OF Mendon now
.nown rs Blackstone, and when only
years of age he packed all his world
effects into small trunk. shipped IL
N board Of boat on the Blackstone
anal. and tramped. like some more of
,ur prominent citizens, the entire dis
ance to Worcester. His fortune con-
listed of pluck, energy and brains. and
| " their aid he carved his own way
through the world. Ho went TO the
Worcester county Manual Labor high
chool, now the Baptist academy.
which furnished INDECENT young men
With means to pay for their schooling,
provided they had a disposition to work.
From the manual labor school MIR.
rhayer entered Brown university. and
,aid his way through college by having
,een. by turns, teacher. carpenter,
yood-sawyer and landscape gardener
After graduating from college he re-
urned to his adopted city. became
principal of the Worcester academy,
milt the Dread institute. and was sub
equently elected alderman, represent
tive to the general court and member
II congress.
Although Eli Thayer was member
# the Massachusetts legislature in
1853, 1t was in 1854 that his great pub
ic career may be said to have begun.
n Mr.. Thayer's own language, that
was the great dominating year in the
iation's history. Slavery had attained
IS highest power, and controlled the
government in all its branches" Sew
.rd. Chase. Sumner, John Davis, Hor-
zee Greeley, John Quincy Adams, and
iome OF the other great men of the day
we're crying out as II with one accord,
Slavery rules everything here. 1t is
stronger now than ever before"
The fugitive slave law has been pass
ID. Texas annexed, the Dred-Scott de-
,sion rendered, and the repeal of the
Missouri compromise anticipated. The
I'D abolitionists were denouncing the
lpathy of the American churches
lrawing graphic pictures Of manacles.
/, ,loodhounds, auction blocks, and adj
'ocating a dissolution OF the union.
The free-state men were disheartened
md silent For n quarter of century
he halls Of congress had been a battle
ground, and upon the very day of the
repeal of the Missouri comprom sc
seward said; THE sun OF liberty has
yet upon all the territorial possessions
II the United States. When this OBJ.
euration shall be removed none but
he Author of Events can tell. One
hing Is certain, that none Of us will
axe any part in removing.it. 1t must
DC left to future generations.
About the same time Horace Greeley
wrote that "the black power rules
Everything. and was never so strong as
t is this day. That bill is darkness
without one glance of light; a desert
without one spot of yerdure." Chase,
iiddings, and Sumner were giving up
n despair because tho territories OF
Kansas and Nebraska were thrown
open for hand to-hand fight between
rec and slave labor Garrison, Phillips,
md the other great minds which direct
ID the abolition movement had moth
ng to offer but dissolution of the
! American union.
At that time the city of Worcester had
The honor of being represented, in part,
n the Massachusetts legislature by Eli
rhayer, He caught the spirit of the
1our and applied his brain and heart to
he work of saving Kansas to the free
'tates and crushing slavery in fair
iand-in-hand fight with free labor.
While the abolitionistS were despairmp
of saving the territories and were re-
airing in sullen and angry mood from
The conflict Mr.. Thayer conceived the
plan of organized emigration. He rea-
'oned out that organized free labor
could easily overthrow organized slave
labor He perceived the necessity for
an organized, self-sacriiiciug emigra-
ton to Kansas, which would hold that
state against the eneroaehments of the
slave power He matured his plan,
md lonsed for an opportunity to test
Is soundness before a public audience.
On March II, 1854, that opnortnnitv
was afforded him by the citizens of
Worcester, who met to protest against
The reDeal of Tho Af;..s,.;